Can Saline Breast Implants Affect my Asthma?

Question

I want to get saline breast implants, but am worried about it effecting my asthma. I know they are also encased in silicone shell and after reading horror stories it has me thinking twice. My asthma is moderate I take inhalers daily for it. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jonathan Saunders, MD · Answer

there is no relationship between breast implants and asthma... neather silicone nor saline.  enjoy your augmentation

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

If your asthma is optimally controlled the risk is very small and you can undergo major surgery without significant asthma complications. Most anesthesiologists I have worked with will recommend that you take your asthma medicine the prior to surgery with a sip of water and bring your inhalers to the surgery center. In addition, steroids are given just prior to anesthesia in most patients any way which helps prevent asthmatic complications. On the other hand, if your asthma is poorly controlled, or you are steroid-dependent, you are at increased risk and therefore it is recommended that your asthma specialist provide any needed specific medical preparation prior to surgery including a written plan to give to your surgeon and anesthesiologist regarding asthma medication recommendations pre- and post-surgery. This will include a complete pre-surgical evaluation including pulmonary function test results, physical examination, and review of your medications and past medical problems. If your pulmonary function tests are not optimal your asthma doctor and/or anesthesiologist may choose to postpone surgery until your asthma is under optimal control prior to giving surgical clearance. In addition, it is advisable that you contact that anesthesiologist beforehand to discuss any issues that might arise and their management. . This is because surgery may cause an asthma flare or related bronchospasm during or immediately after surgery. Make sure you tell the anesthesiologist and your surgeon the amount and type of steroids you take so additional steroids can be given to prevent adrenal insufficiency which can result in a sudden blood pressure drop.#asthma#breastimplantswithasthma

Laurence Weider, MD · Answer

There is no evidence that breast implants (saline or silicone) will worsen your asthma. You should, however, make sure that your Plastic Surgeon and your anesthesiologist are aware ahead of time that you have asthma. Best of luck with your breast augmentation.

Howard Webster, MBBS (Hons), FRACS · Answer

The answer is nope.

	On looking at some of the other answers here, I would endorse the suggestion that you consider cohesive gel filled implants if you are comfortable to have implants at all.  They're simply much better than saline.  In Australia, we've been using them since 1997 and the long term results are superior in the longevity of the implant and the naturalness of the feel of the breast provided you don't get a capsular contracture (the risk of which is the same in saline or gel implants).

	Despite many studies showing that breast implants are not an unsafe thing to have done from your health point of view, its my advice that if you feel a sense of discomfort about having breast implants put in, then simply don't.  Life is too short to add a possible stress to it.

	Good luck!

Joseph Mele, MD · Answer

There is no demonstrated relationships between breast implants and asthma. It will be important to have you asthma under control prior to the surgery, and I routinely have my asthma patients bring their inhalers to the surgery center as some inhalers are very helpful in keeping the airways relaxed during surgery.

	It is almost impossible to avoid exposure to silicone in everyday life. Two in particular Dimethicone and Dimethylpolysiloxane are used in everything from cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners and even as a food additive. Silicone is even used for the valves in inhaler spacers.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

Horror stories abound, but facts being what they are, saline breast implants will have no affect on your asthma.

	Best of luck,

	peterejohnsonmd

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

Breast implants (Saline and Silicone) are safe and don't effect respiratory disease including asthma. Your fears are ill founded. You may be subconsciously trying to find a reason to deny yourself benefits of breast augmentation. There is no validity to your fears.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Saline breast implants will not cause asthma or exacerbate the condition. The implants are inert and have not been shown to cause these types of problems.

James Tang, MD · Answer

There is no know correlation or causal evidence of any relationship between breast implants, either saline or silicone, and your asthma. Your asthma should be under good control before you contemplate having breast implants.

Jay Burns, MD · Answer

There is no evidence to suggest that breast implant, either saline or silicone, will effect your asthma.

	There is no more emotional topic in my practice than the possibility of  health issues related to breast implants. Fortunately the emotion is gradually lessening with good science and factual data. IN 1997 the American Academy of Rheumatology published a broad study that showed that there was no correlation between Breast implantation and rheumatologic / autoimmune diseases. There are still anecdotal reports on the Internet, but I would continue to point you to the facts that there is no evidence to support a cause and effect relation of any significance. 

	On another note, asthma complicates general anesthesia on occasion and that should be a focus of your doctor and anesthesiologist but any risk would be due to the airway issues inherent in asthma and surgery, but this is not related to the implants in any way based on the evidence we know today.

Can Saline Breast Implants Affect my Asthma?

Answers (17)

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